Toilet with disposable receptacle

ABSTRACT

A toilet is provided with a disposable receptacle which is selfsealing and detachably connected to the permanent parts of the toilet. A foot-operated pedal when depressed simultaneously flushes the bowl and temporarily opens a spring-loaded receptacle cover. A spring-loaded platform supports the receptacle and is connected to a guage rod which, when moved by the platform under the weight of the receptacle, indicates that the receptacle is full.

nited States Spector [45] Nov., 20, 1973 [54] TOILET WITH DISPOSAELE RECEPTACILIE [76] Inventor: Samuel Spector, 352 Atlantic Ave.,

Marblehead, Mass.

[22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 240,674

[52] U.S. Cl. 4/78, 4/10, 4/92 [51] lnt. Cl E03d 11/110 [58] Field 0l Search 4/1, 10, 8, 17, 76,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,609,772 10/ 1971 Howard 4/115 3,638,244 2/1972 Schmid et al. 4/17 3,634,891 l/l972 Kemper 4/10 3,597,769 8/1971 Brainard 4/10 3,611,446 10/1971 Howard 4/10 3,540,062 ll/ 1970 Leone 4/ 10 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney- Gerald Altman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A toilet is provided with a disposable receptacle which is self-sealing and detachably connected to the permanent parts of the toilet. A foot-operated pedal when depressed simultaneously flushes the bowl and temporarily opens a spring-loaded receptacle cover. A spring-loaded platform supports the receptacle and is connected to a guage rod which, when moved by the platform under the weight of the receptacle, indicates that the receptacle is full.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PMENTED HID/2U 1975 SHEET l CF 2 PATENTE!) NDV 20 |975 SHEET 2 UF 2 FIG. 4

TOILET WITH IDISIOSAIBLE RECEPTACLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to anti-pollution, water saving toilet equipment and more particularly is directed towards a new and improved flushing type toilet apparatus employing a disposable receptacle for waste material.

2. Description of the Prior Art In a conventional toilet, the bowl is connected to soil pipe which drains either into a sewer system, septic tank, cesspool or the like. Each toilet normally is provided with a tank which stores several gallons of water used to flush the bowl through a syphoning arrangement. Toilets of this type, while long in use, have a number of drawbacks. First of all, a large amount of water is used for each flushing action and the resulting drains pose a serious disposal problem. Typically, 500 gallons of drinking water are used for flushing purposes by the average family in l week. Where a sewerage system is involved, the local city or town must provide treatment facilities which are both large and expensive in order to reduce pollution of lakes, rivers and oceans.

lf the drains are passed to cesspools or the like, there is a danger of polluting underground water sources. Large leaching fields, oftentimes used for waste disposal, are subject to stoppage because of poor draining characteristics of the soil or plugging of the leaching pipes. While it has been proposed previously to eliminate piping in toilets by the use of disposable bags, cans and the like, these have been used primarily for portable toilet facilities and are relatively crude units with no flusning capabilities. Furthermore, such containers when filled then must be dumped on land or in the water, thereby causing pollution.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flush-type toilet having a disposable receptacle detach` ably connected to the toilet whereby the bowl is kept clean and the receptacle is kept sealed under normal conditions. A further object of this invention is to provide a compact, low cost toilet with a disposable receptacle and which may be used in homes, vehicles such as boats and trailers, or other conventional installations in place of a standard toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention features a toilet with a disposable receptacle comprising a housing having upper and lower sections hinged to one another, a toilet bowl mounted permanently to the upper section and a disposable receptacle detachably mounted to the lower portion of the frame and adapted to seal against the bowl. The receptacle is provided with an integral hinged lid adapted to open and close in response to a foot-operated flushing control mechanism. A flushing system is provided to meter a limited amount of flusning water to the bowl in response to actuation of the control mechanism. Filling of the receptacle is indicated by a gauge rod which rests on a pivoted, spring-loaded platform supporting the receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a view in perspective, partially cut away, showing a toilet apparatus made according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in side elevation of the FIG. l apparatus,

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view in side elevation of the neck of the receptacle and the base of the bowl showing the cover in closed position,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the cover in an open position,

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus, and,

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the upper housing section raised open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 generally indicates a toilet appliance made according to the invention and organized about a housing l2 comprised of upper and lower housing sections 14 and 16 respectively. The housing sections are hinged to one another by means of a hinge 18 to permit the upper section to be raised with respect to the lower section for reasons that will presently appear. While the housing l2 has been shown in a boxed configuration for the sake of illustrative simplicity, obviously it may be fabricated in any desired style. The upper housing section 14 is equipped with a permanently mounted concave bowl 20 of relatively stiff plastic, stainless steel or other suitable material. The bowl is open at its top with a conventional seat and cover 22 hinged at 24 to the top of the housing.

Around the upper rim of the bowl 20 is disposed a tube 26 which may be integral with the bowl or mounted separately thereto to form an annular passage 28 about the periphery of the bowl. The tube 26 is formed with inwardly and downwardly oriented spaced orifices 30 adapted to direct a flow of flushing water over substantially the entire inner surface of the bowl 20. The tube 26 is connected by a conduit 36 to a source of flushing water. The valve 34 is actuated by a spring-loaded foot pedal 38 pivotally mounted about a rod 40 extending from the side wall of the lower housing section 16. The valve 34 preferably is of a normally closed type which opens under pressure from the foot applied to the pedal and closes on release of pressure. The valve, when open, delivers a few ounces of water through the jet orifices 30 at a relatively high pressure of perhaps psi. In practice, about 2 ounces of water will be used in a l0 second flush cycle and, an average family might use perhaps 2 gallons of flushing water per week instead of 500 gallons with a conventional toilet.

The lower housing section 16 is adapted to accommodate a disposable receptacle 42 which, preferably, is a semi-rigid plastic container which may be blow molded of a waterproof material such as vinyl plastic or the like and having a capacity of perhaps 6 gallons. The receptacle is formed with an upwardly extending neck 44 about a central opening 46 adapted to register with a central bowl opening 48. The neck 44 preferably is formed with an annular shoulder 50 whereby the neck of the container may be mounted snugly in a re-entrant semi-circular notch 51 formed in the outer end of a brace 52 extending forwardly from the rear wall of the lower housing section. The function of the brace 52 is to hold the neck of the receptacle in aligned position with respect to the bowl opening 4%. The notch of the brace permits the receptacle to be slipped in and out of position to easily remove a disposable receptacle 42 when it is filled and to replace it with a fresh receptacle by slipping the neck in and out of the notch. In order to further facilitate removal and replacement of` the receptacle, a front wall 54 of the lower housing may be hinged at 56 to permit the receptacle to be moved easily in and out of position.

The receptacle 42 is provided with a spring-loaded cover 58 hinged to the neck 44 and normally maintained in a raised and closed position by means of a spring hinge 60. The cover 58 is opened simultaneously with the flushing cycle since the opening mechanism is actuated by the pedal 38 which also actuates the flusning valve 34. The opening mechanism includes a pair of flexible, tubular cables 60 each having a flexible wire or rod 62 mounted for axial sliding movement therein. One end of each cable 60 is fixed to the lower housing section 16 adjacent to the pedal 38 with the inner flexible rod 62 extending into driving contact with the pedal 38. When the pedal is depressed, the rods 62 will move lengthwise within the cable 60 and will retract when pressure on the pedal is released. The opposite end of the cables 60 pass into the wall of the bowl 20 and are secured thereto by clamps 64. The wall of the bowl is formed with the passages 66 terminating at the lower edge of the bowl about the opening 48. The end of each rod 62 thus terminates in driving contact with the hinged cover 68 so that, when the pedal 38 is depressed, the free end of each rod 62 will extend out through the passage 66, forcing the cover 68 downwardly into an open position. The cover automatically closes when the pedal pressure is released.

In order to maintain a tight seal between the neck of the receptacle 42 and the lower rim of the bowl, a resilient seal, typically in the form of a neoprene O-ring 68 is provided. The upper rim of the receptacle neck may be fonned with a cooperating groove to snugly receive the O-ring and form a tight seal therewith. The outer surface of the neck 44 is threaded at 70 to receive a screw cap 72 to seal the opening when the receptacle 42 is full and ready for disposal.

The receptacle 42 is mounted on a platform 74, preferably hinged at 76 at the front end thereof and normally held in a slightly raised position by means of a spring 78 at the rear end thereof. A flexible gauge rod 80 rests on a rearward end of the platform 74 and extends vertically upward so that its upper end is normally visible through the top wall of` the housing. When the receptacle 42 becomes filled, its weight will cause the platform 74 to compress the spring 78 and lower the platform. This, in turn, will cause the gauge rod 80 to drop and its upper end will disappear from view so that a positive indication will be given that the receptacle needs to be replaced.

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States l. A toilet, comprising a. support means,

b. a bowl fixed to said support means and formed with a drain opening therein,

c. conduit means connected to said bowl and to a source of flushing liquid,

d. valve means connected to said conduit means for selectively delivering flushing liquid to said bowl,

e. a disposable waterproof container removably mounted below said bowl,

f. said container being formed with an open neck portion adapted to register with said drain opening, and,

g. a normally closed spring biased, pivotal cover mounted in said neck portion across said opening and integral with said container,

h. cover opening means operatively connected to said cover, and,

i. actuating means operatively connected to said valve means and to said cover,

j. said neck portion being threaded to receive a screw cap.

2. A toilet according to claim l wherein said conduit means includes an annular tube disposed about the upper rim of said bowl and formed with a plurality of spaced orifices.

3. A toilet according to claim l wherein said valve means includes a timer adapted to maintain said valve means in an open condition for a predetermined period.

4. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said container is fabricated from a semi-rigid plastic material.

5. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said support includes a horizontally extending fixed brace formed with a notch at its free end proximate to said drain opening adapted to support and position the neck of said container with respect to said drain opening.

6. A toilet according to claim l wherein said support means includes upper and lower housing sections, said upper housing section carrying said bowl and being hinged to said lower section.

7. A toilet according to claim l wherein said actuating means includes a foot pedal pivotally mounted to said support means.

8. A toilet, comprising a. support means,

b. a bowl fixed to said support means and formed with a drain opening therein,

c. conduit means connected to said bowl and to a source of flushing liquid,

d. valve means connected to said conduit means for selectively delivering flushing liquid to said bowl,

e. a disposable waterproof container removably mounted below said bowl,

f. said container being formed with an open neck portion adapted to register with said drain opening,

g. a normally closed cover across said opening,

h. cover opening means operatively connected to said cover,

i. actuating means operatively connected to said valve means and to said cover, and,

j. a resilient platform connected to said support means below said container for supporting said container and an elongated gauge member having one end engaging said platform and the opposite end extending out of said support means whereby said gauge member will move upon depression of said platform under the weight of said container.

9. A toilet, comprising a. support means,

b. a bowl fixed to said support means and formed with a drain opening therein,

c. conduit means connected to said bowl and to a source of flushing liquid,

d. valve means connected to said conduit means for selectively delivering flushing liquid to said bowl,

valve means and to said cover,

j. said cover opening means including an elongated flexible tubular cable extending between said cover and said actuating means and an elongated flexible rod slidably disposed in said cable and having one end drivingly engaging said actuating means. 

1. A toilet, comprising a. support means, b. a bowl fixed to said support means and formed with a drain opening therein, c. conduit means connected to said bowl and to a source of flushing liquid, d. valve means connected to said conduit means for selectively delivering flushing liquid to said bowl, e. a disposable waterproof container removably mounted below said bowl, f. said container being formed with an open neck portion adapted to register with said drain opening, and, g. a normally closed spring biased, pivotal cover mounted in said neck portion across said opening and integral with said container, h. cover opening means operatively connected to said cover, and, i. actuating means operatively connected to said valve means and to said cover, j. said neck portion being threaded to receive a screw cap.
 2. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means includes an annular tube disposed about the upper rim of said bowl and formed with a plurality of spaced orifices.
 3. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a timer adapted to maintain said valve means in an open condition for a predetermined period.
 4. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said container is fabricated from a semi-rigid plastic material.
 5. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said support includes a horizontally extending fixed brace formed with a notch at its free end proximate to sAid drain opening adapted to support and position the neck of said container with respect to said drain opening.
 6. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said support means includes upper and lower housing sections, said upper housing section carrying said bowl and being hinged to said lower section.
 7. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a foot pedal pivotally mounted to said support means.
 8. A toilet, comprising a. support means, b. a bowl fixed to said support means and formed with a drain opening therein, c. conduit means connected to said bowl and to a source of flushing liquid, d. valve means connected to said conduit means for selectively delivering flushing liquid to said bowl, e. a disposable waterproof container removably mounted below said bowl, f. said container being formed with an open neck portion adapted to register with said drain opening, g. a normally closed cover across said opening, h. cover opening means operatively connected to said cover, i. actuating means operatively connected to said valve means and to said cover, and, j. a resilient platform connected to said support means below said container for supporting said container and an elongated gauge member having one end engaging said platform and the opposite end extending out of said support means whereby said gauge member will move upon depression of said platform under the weight of said container.
 9. A toilet, comprising a. support means, b. a bowl fixed to said support means and formed with a drain opening therein, c. conduit means connected to said bowl and to a source of flushing liquid, d. valve means connected to said conduit means for selectively delivering flushing liquid to said bowl, e. a disposable waterproof container removably mounted below said bowl, f. said container being formed with an open neck portion adapted to register with said drain opening, g. a normally closed cover across said opening, h. cover opening means operatively connected to said cover, and, i. actuating means operatively connected to said valve means and to said cover, j. said cover opening means including an elongated flexible tubular cable extending between said cover and said actuating means and an elongated flexible rod slidably disposed in said cable and having one end drivingly engaging said actuating means. 